Paving Calculator, South Africa
Calculate paver quantities, bedding sand and jointing sand for any SA paving project. Supports herringbone, stretcher and stack bond patterns.
Quick answer: Paver quantity per m² depends on paver size: standard 200×100mm pavers need 50 per m² (the paver's own size, no joint deducted), while larger 230×115mm pavers need about 38 per m². Add 10% wastage for straight cuts and breakage, and 15% or more for herringbone or curves when ordering (2026 SA paver sizes).
Paving Calculator
200×100mm pavers: 50 per m², plus 10% wastage
For planning purposes only. Always include a compacted sub-base before the sand bedding layer. Consult a contractor for complex or high-traffic paving.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter paving area lengthEnter the length of the area to be paved, in metres.
- Enter paving area widthEnter the width of the area to be paved, in metres.
- Select paver sizeChoose 200×100mm, 230×115mm, 300×300mm or 400×200mm to match the paver you are using.
- Select paver thicknessChoose 50mm for patios and driveways, or 60mm or 80mm for heavier vehicles. Thickness sets the jointing sand and the excavation depth.
- Select joint widthChoose the gap between pavers: 3mm is standard, 2mm is a tight joint and 5mm a wide one. It sets how much jointing sand you need; the paver count does not change, because edge pavers are cut and still needed.
- Select laying patternChoose stretcher bond, stack bond or herringbone. Herringbone needs more cuts, so it carries a higher wastage allowance.
- Select sand bedding depthChoose 30mm for standard residential paving, 25mm for light pedestrian areas only, or 35mm for uneven ground.
- Select wastage overrideLeave on Auto to use the wastage built into your chosen pattern, or override it manually for simple straight cuts, many cuts, or curves and complex shapes.
- Click Calculate PavingResults show total pavers needed including wastage, pavers per square metre, bedding sand in cubic metres, jointing sand in 25kg bags and the depth to excavate.
Paving Calculations in South Africa: Complete Guide
Paving a driveway, patio or pathway is one of the most common improvement projects for South African homeowners. Getting the material quantities right before you order avoids costly shortfalls or excess paver wastage. The key variables are paver size and thickness, joint width, laying pattern and the depth of your sand bedding layer, all of which this calculator accounts for with SA-specific paver dimensions.
SA Paver Sizes and Coverage
| Paver Size | Type | Pavers per m² (no joint deducted) | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200×100mm | Standard brick paver | 50 | Driveways, paths, general use |
| 200×200mm | Square paver | 25 | Patios, garden paths |
| 230×115mm | Larger brick paver | 37.8 | Driveways, large areas |
| 300×300mm | Square slab paver | 11.1 | Patios, pool areas |
| 400×200mm | Large rectangular | 12.5 | Large patios and pool surrounds |
| 400×400mm | Large square slab | 6.25 | Premium patios |
Our calculation: 1,000,000 ÷ (paver length × paver width), sizes in millimetres, which gives 50 per m² for 200×100mm, the same as the supplier figure (600 pavers on a 12.0m² pallet, below). A joint would lower the count by about 4% (3mm) to 7% (5mm) on a large area, but the edge pavers are cut and still needed (a 2.0 × 1.5m patch of 200×100mm pavers takes 150 pavers with a 5mm joint or without one), so the calculator does not take that credit. The joint width sets the jointing sand instead.
"Interlocking" and "bevel" pavers are paver types, not separate sizes. A bevel-edge or interlocking-profile paver in any of the sizes above uses the same per-m² coverage as its flat, square-edge equivalent, since the coverage math is based on the paver's footprint, not its edge profile.
Pavers per Pallet: SA Supplier Data
Pallet quantities depend on paver weight and a pallet's load limit, not area alone, so they vary by supplier and thickness even within the same footprint size. A thicker paver of the same length and width fits meaningfully fewer per pallet. The figures below come from published South African supplier spec sheets, covering the 200×100mm size class plus one common clay-brick-paver variant at a slightly larger footprint (220×108.5mm):
| Paver Size | Pavers per Pallet | Coverage per Pallet |
|---|---|---|
| 200×100×50mm (bevel, 30MPa) | 600 | 12.0m² |
| 202×101×50mm (rectangular) | 594 | 12.4m² |
| 220×108.5×50mm (clay brick paver) | 500 | 10.8m² |
| 200×100×80mm (thicker, industrial-duty) | 360 | 7.4m² |
Pallet data for this page's other sizes (200×200mm, 230×115mm, 300×300mm, 400×200mm, 400×400mm) is not consistently published by manufacturers online. Always confirm the exact pallet quantity with your supplier before ordering, since it depends on the specific product's thickness and that supplier's own pallet specification.
Paving Calculator Formula
Paving area (m²) = Length × Width
Pavers per m² = 1,000,000 ÷ (paver length × paver width), in mm; no joint deducted
Pavers (no waste) = Area × Pavers per m²
Pavers (with waste) = Pavers (no waste) × (1 + wastage %)
Sand volume (m³) = Area × Sand depth (m) × 1.2 (loose-to-compacted factor)
Joint share of surface = 1 − (paver length × paver width) ÷ ((paver length + joint) × (paver width + joint))
Jointing sand (litres) = Area × Joint share × Paver thickness (mm)
Jointing sand (kg) = Litres × 1.5; bags = kg ÷ 25
Excavation depth = Sub-base (100 to 150mm) + Sand depth + Paver thickness
Worked example: an 8m × 4m patio
An 8m × 4m patio (32m²) in 200×100mm pavers 50mm thick, with 3mm joints, stretcher bond (10% wastage) and 30mm of bedding sand.
- Pavers: 1,000,000 ÷ (200 × 100) = 50 per m², so 32 × 50 = 1,600 pavers, and 1,760 with wastage.
- Bedding sand: 32 × 0.030 × 1.2 = 1.15m³.
- Jointing sand: the joints take 4.35% of the surface, so 32m² × 4.35% × 50mm = 69.6 litres, which at 1.5kg per litre is 104kg, or 5 bags of 25kg.
- Excavation: 180 to 230mm below the finished level (100 to 150mm of G5, 30mm of sand and a 50mm paver).
Paving Base Construction: What Goes Under Your Pavers
A properly constructed paving base is critical for paving that stays level, stable and crack-free over time. The standard SA residential paving construction from bottom to top is:
- Natural ground (compacted): Compact the existing subgrade to the project specification; the CMA paving manual leaves the figure to the project
- G5 sub-base (100–150mm compacted): Bosun specifies a 150mm G5 base, compacted in two 75mm layers (never more than 100mm at a time) and to 98% modified AASHTO density on heavily trafficked sites; the 100mm lower figure is our estimate for patios and light use
- River sand bedding (25–35mm compacted): Screeded level about 20% deeper than the finished thickness (our estimate; Bosun screeds 30 to 40mm for 25 to 35mm compacted); do not compact it before the pavers are placed
- Pavers: Laid to pattern with 2 to 5mm joints (the CMA allows 2 to 6mm)
- Jointing sand: Brushed into joints and vibrated/tamped in
- Plate compactor pass: Beds pavers firmly into sand layer
Herringbone vs Stretcher Bond vs Stack Bond
Herringbone is the strongest interlocking pattern because pavers lock against each other in two directions, distributing load across multiple units. It is the correct choice for any driveway carrying vehicles. Stretcher bond (brick bond) is easier to lay and cuts only occur at edges, a good compromise for pedestrian areas. Stack bond is the easiest to lay but provides no interlocking and is not suitable for driveways. The 45° herringbone pattern produces the most cutting waste (15%, our estimate) because every edge cut is at an angle.
Stack bond (grid pattern) is the weakest layout for load-bearing paving because the joints run continuously in both directions, creating lines of weakness. It is only appropriate for light pedestrian areas and decorative feature paving. For driveways and any paving subject to vehicle loads, herringbone at 45° or 90° is the correct specification. Stretcher bond (running bond) is an acceptable alternative for pedestrian paths where a clean linear aesthetic is desired, provided the course direction runs across rather than along the primary load direction.
Paving Maintenance in South African Conditions
Concrete block paving requires relatively low maintenance but does need attention to preserve its long-term performance. Jointing sand will erode over time, particularly in areas with heavy rainfall or vehicle wash-down, and must be replenished as soon as joints begin to open. Open joints allow individual pavers to rock under load, which rapidly leads to edge chipping, uneven surface and weed growth. Bosun advises sweeping additional jointing sand into the joints after two weeks and after two months, then at least twice a year, before and after the rainy season.
Efflorescence (white salt staining) is common on new concrete pavers in South Africa, particularly in the first six to twelve months (our estimate). It is caused by calcium hydroxide migrating to the surface as the concrete cures. It is a normal characteristic of cementitious products and not a manufacturing defect. It weathers away on its own with time and rainfall. Avoid applying sealers to brand-new pavers for at least six months (our estimate) to allow efflorescence to clear naturally; sealing too early traps salts under the surface and prolongs the problem. South African soil conditions add a specific consideration: expansive clay soils, which occur in parts of Gauteng, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, can heave significantly with seasonal moisture changes. Paving laid directly over poorly compacted expansive clay will crack and lift regardless of paver quality. Bosun advises consulting an engineer experienced in segmented block paving where the soil is clay; at the least, specify a 150mm compacted G5 sub-base before the bedding sand layer is placed. The base preparation cost is small relative to the cost of relaying the full pavement.
Frequently Asked Questions
The number of pavers per m² depends on paver size. Standard SA 200×100mm pavers laid in herringbone or stretcher bond need 50 per m² (the paver's own size, no joint deducted, which is what suppliers quote). Larger 230×115mm pavers need about 38 per m². The joint width sets the jointing sand, not the paver count. Always add 10% wastage for cuts and breakage, increasing to 15% for herringbone or diagonal patterns (our estimate).
The compacted sand bedding layer under paving should be 25–35mm deep after compaction, typically installed at 30mm (the CMA and Bosun guides); it is screeded about 20% deeper (our estimate) before the pavers are bedded in. This sits on a compacted G5 sub-base: Bosun specifies 150mm, and this calculator uses 100–150mm. The depth to excavate below the finished level is therefore about 175–265mm, from a 100mm base with 50mm pavers and 25mm of sand to a 150mm base with 80mm pavers and 35mm of sand.
Use well-draining river sand with very few fines for the bedding layer; Bosun refers to the SANS 1200 MJ grading and stresses that a bed with little fines drains properly. Avoid sand with clay or a lot of fines, which holds water and lets pavers settle unevenly. For the joints, Bosun recommends a graded jointing sand, and notes that light-coloured plaster sand is commonly used in South Africa; it advises against cement grouting on a sand bed.
Herringbone (45° or 90°) is the strongest paving pattern for driveways in South Africa as it provides excellent interlocking and distributes load across multiple pavers. Stack bond (grid) is the easiest to lay but the weakest pattern. Stretcher bond (brick bond) is a good compromise, easier than herringbone but stronger than stack. Herringbone 45° also requires the most cuts, so increase wastage to 15% (our estimate).
Paving costs in South Africa (2026) typically range from R250–R550/m² for concrete block pavers laid by a contractor, including materials and labour; clay pavers run from R300 to R800/m². Concrete pavers alone cost about R150–R195/m² (pavingprices.co.za, 2026), and a DIY job adds the G5 base and the sand. Prices vary by province and supplier.
For standard pedestrian and light vehicle paving in South Africa, a compacted crushed stone sub-base with a sand bedding layer is sufficient. No concrete base is required (our recommendation). A concrete base is only recommended for heavy vehicle access (delivery trucks, heavy bakkies) or where ground conditions are very poor. A concrete base makes future repairs more difficult and more expensive.
Concrete block paving (CBP) is the most popular SA driveway option: durable, repairable and available in multiple finishes. Clay brick pavers offer better colour stability and a premium look. Exposed aggregate concrete is lower-cost but cracks over time. Avoid standard tar for residential driveways.
Split the area into simple rectangles and triangles, calculate each separately and sum the totals. This gives a close enough estimate for ordering. For curved edges (around pools, beds or driveways), add the curved sections as rectangles using their maximum width, since curved cuts always produce extra waste. Increase wastage to 15–20% (our estimate) for any layout with curves, as every curved paver is a cut paver and breakage rates are higher.